The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-07-22
BEAR HUNTING.
How the Huntsrs FOLLOW the Signs of tn.
Game Some OF the Habits OF the A M
NAL.

There are a great many ways by
which We can tell when bears are likely
TO be plenty in any locality. The bears
live in the swamps, and early in the sum
mer, II Bruin is about. the soft black
mud along the edge Of the swamps will
be broken up as IL herd OF cows had
been walking through It. At intervals
also, the mud will be followed out In
spots eight or ten feet long. two or
three wide. and as many deep.
These arc wallow holes made by the
bears, whose tracks it Is that have brok-
en- up the mud of the swamp borders.
In these holes the Uears will lie and
wallow and sleep with their noses and
eyes buried in the muck.
L" Some hunters watch these holes and
shoot the bears q. they come out OF the
swamp to wallow, but as at that time
OF year their flesh is poor AID their fur
vaiueless, such killing OF bears except
on the score OF abating q nuisance is
senseless and Improbable.
At that time OF year, in looking for
bear signs, we always examine the trees
along the swamps to tind II any bear
has been measuring himself Bears
have habit OF getting up on tn eir hind
feet by tree, and reaching up with
their fore paws, tearing the bark of as
high as they can reach, leavinss infallible
and plain signs OF their presence. Some
hunters say that In doing this the bears
are measuring their height to see II they
have grown any during the Winter
" In the Fall bears turn up the stones
over large areas, looking for crickets.
bugs, siugs and different Insects OF which
they are fond.
In the late Summer and early Fall
they feed on the huckleberries and black
berries, and when frost comes they may
be found feasting on their favorite fruit,
the bearberry.
When these are gone the hunter
looks among the scrub-oak barrens for
signs Of bear, for then he breaks down
acre upon acre OF these dwarf oaks and
feeds upon the acorns.
" Hornet and yellowiacket nests the
bear never passes by in the Fall, for OF
the immature young OF these insects,
which are found by the thousands in the
nests, he is particularly fond. The
stiDsers Of these fierce bees have no ter
rOr for Bruin.
The choicest morsel to 8 bear, how
ever. is Wild honey. he will line bee
tree as unerringly as bee hunter, and
never gives up until he finds the object
OF his search.
When the tree is found the bear be-
gins 10 look for the place where the hon
ey Is stored. He gives the tree thump
with his paw every few feet until he
strikes tie hollow place. Then IL is the
work Of a short time for him to tear
away the NOOu Win MS sharp claws,
until the rich stores Of honey are laid
bare, and he feasts TO his hears con-
tent.
I'm the coldest weather bears usually
house themselves in small caves or open
ings IN and under the Ied-e Of rocks
whore 1t is dry; uut II the Winter il not
too cold they frequently come out and
are easily tracked through The snow.
They usually select the southern face OF
q mountain for their holes and deas.
The general belief is that they eat
nothing while housed up. and that belief
must be correct for bears certainly do
not store anything for Winter consump-
ton. like the squirrel ana coon; and as
they do not move out OF Winter quarters
IL the weather is severe or snow very
deep. they do not forage during the
Winter.
Whether they subsist on nutriment
obtained by sucking their paws. as some
hunters say they do, cannot say; but
l do know that when they go into Win
ter quarters they are simply masses
OF fat. Their fur is very dense. and then
Is the time to obtain bear skins OF the
best quality.
Dogs are the natural enemies OF
bears, A dogs yelP is the signal to the
bear for a fight.
Pew experienced dogs are foolish
enough to go beyond the opening of
cave where bear has been scented or to
pitch into q bear that has turned for
fight. A full grown bear with his dan
der up can ward of half dozen good
doss IL he can protect his rear. A fair
blow from a bears paw will place any
dog in a condition that will rob the sub
sequent proceedings OF all interest to
him.
AT sight OF a man though, a bear
will make every effort to get away. As
a rule, Bruin will never fight a man un-
less forced TO and then 1t will be war to
the death.
"A she bear with cubs, when followed
closely. will keep her cubs ahead OF her
and bring up the rear to protect them.
II she is p shed closely she will try to
frighten of her pursuer by making q
great show Of fight. She growls. shows
her teeth, tears the bark from the
trees anu scatters it about with much
fuss and noise. and will make herself as
fierce as possible In many ways.
III the enemy presses and there is no
help for IL the moyher bear will fight as
long as she has 4 drop OF blood to shed
in defense OF her young; the cubs. mean
while, will huddle together q short dis
tance of anu whine and cry piteously.
In chasing bear experienced dogs
greatly aid the hunter and do much
toward checking the speed OF the bear.
"A bear chase Is often a long and tire
some piece of work. for when a bear
finds ha he is tracked he will pick out
the most tangled aud impossible places
he can reach. He Will often lead the
hunter 20 miles over mountains and
through valleys where the brush and
brirrs are harassing, and the swampS
almost inaccessible TO man. while Bruin
will shufie along with his clumsy gait
as rapidly as II he were Oh the best Of
roads
"A bear hunters outfit is simple. A
good dog-but they are scarce-a breech
loading double-baTrel shot gun that will
carry charge OF buckshot to Kill at 80
yards, or rifle Il he is an expert, heavy
boots, thick trousers, and shirt, light
hunting-axe in a belt q pistol, and a
long -bladed knife for emergencies, will
equip man who goes out after bears
.' II the hunter is anxious TO be put to
his mettle while on the hunt, let him
manage TO have Bruin get scent OF him
Then the bear Will take a course to fol-
low which will require nerve, wind, and
a tough skin
"Wheu the snow Is deep bear chase
Is generally slow and tedious. With q
light fall and a fresh track, however.
there l. no sport so exciting. and even
an amateur hunter will md himself
going miles on good stih trot. so
wrapped W Is be in the chase.
e 1t Is 10 hard matter u Kill a bear II
the Logs understand their business after
BruIn l. brought 10 bay, for he vi give
all his attention T. IN dog that are
yelpiug around him, while the hunter
STANDS of aud ills him with lead. But
there are times when a bear will brace
himself for a fight from the word go,
and then II the hunter doesn't kill at the
first fire he is apt to have about as lively
a time on his hands as he ever dreamed
Of
"No story OF bear fight that was ever